/sci/ - Science & Math

>>15998626
So what’s the final call? Why didn't NASA go with even a partially reusable SLS rocket? Why did they choose to go the “oldspace” route?
Because expendable is not out of date. It completely depends on what the objective in the program is.
For SLS, its accessing high energy orbital planes and beyond with only one launch. It accomplishes that by eliminating the need for heavy heat shields, spare fuel, or guidance computers that would just be dead weight required for it to survive reentry. Every spare ounce of weight was put into getting as much payload as possible in one launch.